Request follows earlier letter from AHF to the Secretary-General of
the UN demanding that Sidibé step down or be fired as first step in
fixing management culture at UNAIDS following his mishandling of a
growing sexual harassment scandal.

April 24, 2018 07:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A trio of women leaders at AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)—including
its Board Chair, Africa Bureau Chief and Chief of Global Policy and
Advocacy—sent an open
letter today to the UNAIDS
Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) calling for a highly-qualified woman
to replace Michel Sidibé as the UN programme’s Executive Director after
he mishandled a sexual harassment investigation involving his deputy.

The letter comes two weeks after AHF President Michael Weinstein wrote
to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres urging him to initiate
sweeping reforms and a leadership transition at UNAIDS. Thus far the
Secretary-General has remained on the sidelines of the crisis, despite
the need for prompt action.

The following is the full text of the letter from the three women
leaders at AHF to the UNAIDS PCB:

With the apparent need for prompt leadership change at UNAIDS, we urge
the Programme Coordinating Board and civil society to join our call for
a highly-qualified woman leader to assume the executive director
position at the joint programme.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has so far failed to take resolute
action at a time when his stewardship is urgently needed to launch and
oversee the restructuring of UNAIDS. Delaying action and shifting
responsibility will only prolong the crisis. UNAIDS cannot continue with
business as usual when current leadership has lost the moral authority
to lead by covering up an internal sexual harassment scandal.

Advocating on behalf of people affected by AIDS, especially those who
have experienced sexual abuse and harassment, is a core function of
UNAIDS. Until the organization restores internal and external trust in
its mission, it simply cannot function as a credible member of the UN
system.

We are disturbed by the published transcript of an audio recording from
a leaked UNAIDS staff meeting where UNAIDS Executive Director Michel
Sidibe sought to intimidate staff. He alluded to ongoing
“investigations” into whistleblowers who highlight claims of abuse by
saying, “they don’t have a moral approach” and “there will come a time
for everything.”

Exacerbating the situation, Sidibe continues to epitomize ineffectual
leadership by shunning any attempt towards institutional accountability.
His recent efforts to strong arm support from civil society and
pressuring individuals into writing letters defending him are
inappropriate and an outright abuse of power.

His threatening comments and subversive actions run counter to a leader
who seeks to encourage openness and to empower women or men to come
forward to report cases of harassment.

These revelations come after allegations that Sidibé tried to silence
reports of sexual harassment brought by several women against Luiz
Loures by offering promotions and an apology from Loures. In light of
these actions, it is incomprehensible how UNAIDS can repair its
reputation and justify continuing to spend millions of taxpayer dollars
without implementing sweeping reforms and a leadership transition guided
by an independent panel.

Sidibe’s actions as Executive Director of UNAIDS and Deputy
Secretary-General of the UN reflect poorly on the entire global body.
Damage to its reputation comes at the expense of hardworking women and
men, who dedicate their careers to upholding the ideals the UN is meant
to embody – respect for human rights and a spirit of solidarity among
all people.

All would agree that future incidents of sexual harassment and abuse at
UNAIDS, along with any cover-up attempts, must be prevented at all
costs. A commitment to restoring trust in the organization demands a
fundamental shift in management culture – and what better way to empower
women than to put a highly competent, accomplished woman leader with
integrity in charge of UNAIDS?

We urge civil society to see beyond the flurry of crisis-management
public relations efforts Geneva is pumping out to mask the scandal, a
costly campaign for which taxpayers are footing the bill. Let us instead
demand substantive change – an empowered woman leader and an open,
honest UNAIDS.

In our line of lifesaving work there is no place for sexual harassment,
cover-ups, dallying and spin. Without meaningful reforms, UNAIDS
resources can be put to better use by the WHO and the Global Fund to
fight AIDS around the world.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over
889,000 individuals in 39 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn
more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org,
find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth
and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare
and Instagram: @aidshealthcare